Is Sunday School Biblical?

[kevinmiller]

I voted "never", since I've never been to Sunday School in my life. It'sd not that it's unbiblical, it's more unnecessary since Jesus rebuked those who wanted to exclude children from regular services.

The fellowship is okay, all ages together, though.

I know some people who have a problem with S.S. for that reason. My parents don't really like that they split up the family either. I don't go to S.S. now because it's a large class and I don't do well in groups where I don't know anyone. :smile

[John81]

I know some people who have a problem with S.S. for that reason. My parents don't really like that they split up the family either. I don't go to S.S. now because it's a large class and I don't do well in groups where I don't know anyone. :smile

I believe if they are going to have Sunday School it should be held either before or after the church services. The family should be together during the church service.

[Jerry]

There is nothing Biblically wrong in having a Sunday School - I personally believe the whole church should be involved (ie. each group having their own classes, but the whole church attending during that hour). In my church, it is a more structured (though less formal) time of teaching for the adults. Then there is the main service, which is more geared towards preaching than teaching. Not much different in the case of my pastor - but in SS he will work through a series on the same theme - often dealing with expositions of the passages, and in the main service, it is a sermon on whatever the Lord has laid on his heart.

I like both - though there are some differences in style/presentation of the message. Wednesday night is also more a teaching time - though my pastor still preaches through whatever he is teaching. We are doing the Psalms right now and it is such a blessing to study through them in church.

[JerryNumbers]

I believe if they are going to have Sunday School it should be held either before or after the church services. The family should be together during the church service.

Amen, family together during preaching service. I have never attended a church that split up the family for preaching service. For Sunday School, yes.

Jerry, Me too, I like both for different reasons. And without both I feel I have missed out of God's blessings in some way.

[777]

There is nothing Biblically wrong in having a Sunday School - I personally believe the whole church should be involved (ie. each group having their own classes, but the whole church attending during that hour). In my church, it is a more structured (though less formal) time of teaching for the adults. Then there is the main service, which is more geared towards preaching than teaching. Not much different in the case of my pastor - but in SS he will work through a series on the same theme - often dealing with expositions of the passages, and in the main service, it is a sermon on whatever the Lord has laid on his heart.

I like both - though there are some differences in style/presentation of the message. Wednesday night is also more a teaching time - though my pastor still preaches through whatever he is teaching. We are doing the Psalms right now and it is such a blessing to study through them in church.

Yes, I don't think seperation is always exclusion. I think that the prohibition on Sunday schools is just so that it's not used as a substitute for church.

Jesus did say that in Mt 11:25, Mt 21:15 child's understanding can exceed that of the wise and prudent and that God has ordained praise in the utterances of babes in Mt 21:16. PB always follows scripture precedence, but I'm wondering if I've been missing out. You all really seemed to like sunday school.

[Jerry]

I think more teaching and preaching from God's Word is a great thing. I have seen some Christians who only get their one service a week (ie. referring to those who choose to only attend one service, not churches that for whatever reasons might only be able to have one - though I can see that eventually wearing down the church) - and they are weak Christians.

I also think it is good to have times when there is teaching specifically geared to the different age groups - a five year old is not going to understand a message geared towards the adults, and a teen needs something specifically pertaining to where he is as compared to where a five year old might be. I have seen some services where the pastor or preacher tried to appeal to the children AND the adults in the same sermon - and either you water down the message to reach the young ones and don't cover much indepth Bible teaching, or that two minute excerpt is all the child really gets out of the whole sermon. It was like the preacher was going, "Okay, now I've done my Toddler Time, now I can preach to the rest of the people." Having a separate Sunday School for the kids gives them time where they can be personally addressed at the level where they are at.

[John81]

I think more teaching and preaching from God's Word is a great thing. I have seen some Christians who only get their one service a week (ie. referring to those who choose to only attend one service, not churches that for whatever reasons might only be able to have one - though I can see that eventually wearing down the church) - and they are weak Christians.

I also think it is good to have times when there is teaching specifically geared to the different age groups - a five year old is not going to understand a message geared towards the adults, and a teen needs something specifically pertaining to where he is as compared to where a five year old might be. I have seen some services where the pastor or preacher tried to appeal to the children AND the adults in the same sermon - and either you water down the message to reach the young ones and don't cover much indepth Bible teaching, or that two minute excerpt is all the child really gets out of the whole sermon. It was like the preacher was going, "Okay, now I've done my Toddler Time, now I can preach to the rest of the people." Having a separate Sunday School for the kids gives them time where they can be personally addressed at the level where they are at.

When I first began attending a men's Bible study held by the Pastor I was amazed at how much could be learned and how the dynamics change when there is some interaction and the ability to ask questions and receive immediate answers.

That men's Bible study was truly a blessing in my life. How could we ever get too much Bible study?

[vickyjean]

:thumb brother Jerry; I totally agree on what you said on how your SS works. That is how our church works w/SS, though the teachers are all different, godly men, I believed it is geared w/all the problems we face today. Either the SS classes are all involved w/our pastors messages, or vice versa. What ever the case, it works hand in hand together. The kids start coming into the sanctuary after 6th grade, or they choose to minister in the classes that they used to be in; it gives them a hands on ministry. :sing:

[lettheredeemedsayso]

I believe that any time that we study the Bible it is biblical.



2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

[JerryNumbers]

Yes, I don't think seperation is always exclusion. I think that the prohibition on Sunday schools is just so that it's not used as a substitute for church.

Jesus did say that in Mt 11:25, Mt 21:15 child's understanding can exceed that of the wise and prudent and that God has ordained praise in the utterances of babes in Mt 21:16. PB always follows scripture precedence, but I'm wondering if I've been missing out. You all really seemed to like sunday school.

Let me ask a question. Are you saying some might just start attending Sunday school and skip preaching service?

I've been in one church where some of the people would leave right after Sunday school, never attending preaching service, I was quite surprised to see anyone do this.

I enjoy Sunday School and if I had to choose to miss one of them it would be Sunday school.

[777]

Let me ask a question. Are you saying some might just start attending Sunday school and skip preaching service?

I've been in one church where some of the people would leave right after Sunday school, never attending preaching service, I was quite surprised to see anyone do this.

I enjoy Sunday School and if I had to choose to miss one of them it would be Sunday school.

Yes, I've heard of that, too, like Sunday School is a substitute for the regular service.

I asked an elder once about this a long time ago, why Sunday school was so disparged - he just told me that there was no scriptual precedence for it - that the Bible never separated by age, so why should we?

[Jerry]

I asked an elder once about this a long time ago, why Sunday school was so disparged - he just told me that there was no scriptual precedence for it - that the Bible never separated by age, so why should we?

When you witness, do you ever modify what you are saying according to the person, ie. according to their level of understanding? Why should that be any different than a time of teaching? The Bible teaches we are to give the understanding and the sense of the passage - I think that would also be reflected in the level of understanding of those listening.

[vickyjean]

:Bible: Brother Jerry, I agree w/you 100%. If I had to choose between the two services, I would hear my preacher, and leave out Sunday School; I'm just thankful to our Father that I dont have to choose either/or. Everyone have a blessed Resurrection Day!

[JerryNumbers]

I grew up in church, always going to Sunday School and to the Bible classes on Sunday evenings.

I think having done so, I was taught much that I would have missed out on if I had not attended these classes.

Anyone knows that the younger ones do not gain much from the preaching services, but they do gain when they are in a small class with a teacher who loves the Lord and enjoys what they are doing.

To be honest, I feel for the children who miss out on the classes Sunday morning and evening, they will surely never have the knowledge's of the Bible that those who attend these classes.

And to be honest I feel for the adults who cheat themselves out of the blessings that come by being in a Sunday School and evening Bible class. They miss out on getting to know others better, plus in learning more about the Bible in a discussion type setting.

For, if one only attends preaching services on Sunday's they just get about 2 hours time at church, the rest of the week they get filled with mostly worldly stuff, the 2 extra hours does help on very much.

But I shall state this, usually those who only attend preaching service on Sunday morning, they never come to another church service for the rest of the week, sad that some people are bent this way. Having only 1 hour per week to put the world and worldly things out of their mind.

In all of my church going days, I never felt it a sacrifice of my time to attend church services.

It doesn't seem anyone is spending near as much time studying the Bible as the early church members did.

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 2:46-47 (KJV)

Now days many will not take the time to attend even one or 2 services at church on Sundays nor attend Sunday School. Yes, they are missing out on God's blessing, and I firmly believe they have a heart problem.

An elderly lady in our church has cancer, she is wanting so bad to attend church services at least one more time. In health she was always at church, if she wasn't you knew there was a problem. And them there is those who have great health that refuse to attend and or hit and miss. Yes, its a heart problem.